Energy supply circuit for electric components

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy supply circuit of electric components, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an accumulator, wherein a discharge monitoring circuit monitors the energy stored in the accumulator. If the energy stored in the accumulator falls below a threshold value, the discharge monitoring circuit switches off the energy supply at least of individual components, in particular of all components.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An energy supply circuit comprising:
 a rechargeable battery; and 
 a discharge monitoring circuit, 
 the rechargeable battery configured to supply electricity to electronic components in a motor vehicle, 
 the discharge monitoring circuit configured to monitor a level of stored energy stored in the rechargeable battery, 
 and to switch off energy supply to all said electronic components upon said level of stored energy falling below a threshold energy value, 
 the discharge monitoring circuit also configured to switch back on energy supply from the rechargeable battery to a locking system component of a locking system of the motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking system comprises a first device and a second device, the first device a control device that has at least two states, each of the first and second devices comprising at least one of an electromagnetic signal transmitter and an electromagnetic signal receiver, the first device and the second device configured to transmit between the first device and the second device a coded operational signal for the authentication of the second device, so that after a positive evaluation of the transmitted operational signal in the case of the authorized second device, a change in the state of the first device can be effected, and wherein said first device comprises said locking system component, to which residual energy stored in the rechargeable battery is made available to said locking system component upon receipt of a positively evaluated electromagnetic signal that indicates a request that residual energy be made available to said locking system component. 
     
     
       3. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein said first device comprises a module of a system that selectively authorizes at least one of driving and access, and said module comprises said locking system component. 
     
     
       4. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 3 , wherein said second device is actuated by a transponder via the module. 
     
     
       5. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the transponder comprises a coil, said coil placed in an outer area of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       6. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein said first device further comprises a control device that is configured to selectively authorize driving, and residual energy stored in the rechargeable battery is made available upon receipt of a positively evaluated electromagnetic signal that indicates a request that said control device authorize driving. 
     
     
       7. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 6 , wherein the second device is actuated by a transponder via the control device that authorizes driving. 
     
     
       8. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 7 , wherein the transponder comprises a coil, said coil placed in an interior area of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       9. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein said first device is a control device that controls at least one of: door locks, an ignition lock, a steering wheel lock, a vehicle immobilizer, and an engine control unit. 
     
     
       10. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein said second device is selected from among an electronic key, an ID transmitter and a chip card. 
     
     
       11. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein a component to which the discharge monitoring circuit is configured to switch back on energy supply from the rechargeable battery is a component of the first device. 
     
     
       12. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein energy supply from the rechargeable battery can be switched back on via an activation unit for operation of electronics of the motor vehicle, so that at least one start process can be carried out for the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       13. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a Li-ion battery. 
     
     
       14. An energy supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a component to which the discharge monitoring circuit is configured to switch back on energy supply from the rechargeable battery is a module in a door of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       15. An energy supply circuit comprising:
 a rechargeable battery; and 
 a discharge monitoring circuit, 
 the rechargeable battery configured to supply electricity to electronic components in a motor vehicle, 
 the discharge monitoring circuit configured to monitor a level of stored energy stored in the rechargeable battery, and to switch off energy supply to at least some of said electronic components upon said level of stored energy falling below a threshold energy value, 
 the discharge monitoring circuit also configured to switch back on energy supply to only one or more components selected from among components that control door locks of the motor vehicle, components that control an ignition lock of the motor vehicle, components that control a steering wheel lock of the motor vehicle, and components that control an engine of the motor vehicle.